Haval H7 1.5T HEV Super Luxury (2026) Review

The first iteration of the Haval H7 is polarising in its design. It offers bulky proportions and a rather aggressive front end. While it did sell, it wasn't quite a big hit locally. Now the Chinese automaker has gone back to the drawing board and come back with something that remains boxy but has a more inviting face, without losing road presence.  

Related: Used Chinese cars: How well are 3-year-old Havals and Cherys holding their value?

Will this new H7 boost Haval's sales figures? Before we get into the details, remember you can sell your car quickly and easily on our website. You can also search for new or used Haval H7 models on AutoTrader here.

Fast facts

Watch: Haval H7 1.5T HEV Super Luxury 4x2 DHT Video Review

• Capable powertrain
  
• Refined cabin
• Comfortable drive

Cons

• Confusing instrument cluster UX.
• Difficult to see out the rear windscreen with spare tyre.

Styling

One of the key changes with the Haval H7 is in it's styling. The previous generation H7 offered polarizing styling with its large proportions and bulky design. The newcomer reigns it in a little however, retains a commanding look with the large and prominant grille flanked signature rectangular headlamps and daytime running lights. The bonnet also has aggressive curves added for a more rugged look.

Down the sides on the Super Luxury trim there a gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels that fill wheelarches well. Speaking off the arches, there are rugged plastic cladding surround the wheel wells for a more off-road style. Move down the 4,800 mm to the rear and you get a laterally opening tailgate with the spare wheel mounted to it. Flanking that and just above the contrasting lower bumper are veritically oriented LED taillamps. 

Dimensions

But the short overhangs on the front and rear bumpers give the Haval H7 respectable approach and departure angles for a model in its segment. Combined with 210 mm ground clearance and you get an SUV that might just deliver a respectable performance on steep undulations. 

Space and Comfort

While the wheelbase shrunk from 2,810 mm in the first H7 to 2,738 mm in this newcomer, interior space still remains rather good, with both front and rear occupants getting a generous amount of leg-, head- and shoulderroom. Behind the rear bench features a 586 litre boot which can be expanded to 1,404 litres if you fold the 60/40 split rear seats flat. There is even a 220V outlet in the boot, rated at 400W on ICE and HEV derivatives, and up to 2.2kW on PHEV models.

As for the comfort, the H7 is upholstered with a soft artificial leather which finds itself on the dashboard, doorcards, three-level heated and ventilated plush front seats, manually adjustable rear seats and centre console. Which brings us to the build quality which we found to be rather high as there were no rattles, or squeaks to report. Even the plastic trim pieces feel rather premium, and Haval chose a matted surface instead of the regular gloss black trim, a rather good move on their part. 

In front of the driver features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a central 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The driver also gets a 9.0-inch head-up display that projects speed, navigation and driver-assistance information directly into the driver's line of sight. The system is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is complimented by the 50W wireless charger at the front of the centre console. 

For those preferring a wired connection, there is USB-C and USB-A port for both front and rear occupants. The infotainment system render it's audio through a 10-speaker sound system which give clear and crispy sound and good levels of bass. To compliment your music are tastefully scattered ambient lighting. Other luxury features include a panoramic sunroof which blocks out 90.5% of UV radiation, as well as voice control that can be accessed through the multifunction steering wheel and can even control the climate control and windows amongst the 17 functions. 

Performance

Powering the H7 in this HEV Super Luxury derivative is a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol, 4-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor, which collectively produce 182 kW and 540 Nm of torque. This is sent to the front wheels via a 5-step DHT or dedicated hybrid transmission. 

The Drive

Step inside the cabin and you are greeted by a well-executed and plush cabin with high levels of quality and tech. After quickly setting up your wireless connection to the infotainment system and playing your favourite podcast or music through the comprehensive sound system, you will feel as though the H7 is already worth every cent. 

Set off on your drive and the throttle and brake calibration is well set with no overly aggressive pull-aways and a progressive brake feel. The DHT transmission is smooth and the shifts are intuitive to your inputs. Speaking of smooth, you barely notice the engine engage in the drive. You barely hear it too as there are very little, engine-, wind- or roadnoise entering the cabin.

The suspension is compliant and combined with the taller profile of the 255/60 R19 wheels and you barely feel imperfections on the road surface and speed bumps are taken care off very nicely. Overall, you have a comfortable luxury SUV with good levels of performance for the daily duties and for longer trips whether you are travelling alone or with your family. 

But it's not all perfect, there are some idiosyncrasies when it comes to the infotainment and instrument cluster usage. While you know that certain features exist, it takes watching a video or reading an article to figure out how to get to certain functionalities or information pages. Then while drive, looking in the rear-view mirror, you can barely see a car behind as a result of the rear mounted full-size spare wheel. 

Fuel Consumption

Haval claims an average combined fuel consumption figure of 5.3 L/100 km for the H7 in HEV configuration. While we weren't necessarily going out of our way to reduce our fuel use, we weren't driving hard either and our average combined fuel consumption was 6.4 L/100 km. We think that result can be improved upon, however, it will take a little more focus and effort from the driver.

Safety

The Haval H7 1.5T HEV Super Luxury does come with a host of standard safety features, and while the previous generation H7 scored 5 stars in the C-NCAP and A-NCAP crash tests, this new model is yet yo be tested. Below are some of the highlights:

• 6 airbags
• Tyre pressure monitor
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 540-degree panoramic camera system
• Transparent chassis-view camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rollover Mitigation
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Keep Assist
• Forward Collision Warning
• Hill Start Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Brake Override Assist
• Hill Descent Control
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Lane Centering
  

Price

The Haval H7 1.5T HEV Super Luxury 4x2 DHT comes with a 7-year/75 000 km service plan with 15 000 km service intervals, 7-year/200 000 km vehicle warranty, and 8-year/150 000 km hybrid battery + high-voltage parts warranty and 7-year/unlimited-km roadside assist.

*The pricing stated here was correct when published and can change at any time and without notice.

Rivals

• Jetour T2
• Chery Tiggo 8 
• Mazda CX-5
• Mitsubishi Destinator
• Geely E5
• MG HS

After a week with the new Haval H7, it becomes clear that they didn't just "fix" what was "wrong" with the outgoing generation, they completely reworked the recipe and set a new bar in the segment for a value-packed offering. We were especially happy with the mid-range specification we got to experience first, this sits in the sweet spot of what South Africans want/need, safety, efficiency and tech. 

While we are yet to put the new H7 through it's paces off-road, the figures presented shows promise but even just used as a daily commuter, the H7 ticks a lot of the right boxes. We can wholeheartedly say that the H7 left us impressed and if you are in the market for a family SUV, we will recommend giving the H7 some thought or better yet a test drive.